Yue Shen's Ambition

Up early?

She had barely slept a wink.

Under the enhancement of her god-level mental-type martial soul, her mental power, memory, and comprehension had reached a terrifying degree.

Last night, she had greedily devoured the entirety of General Knowledge of Spirit Masters.

The vast, systematic, and bizarre world described in the book, centered around martial souls and spirit power, had left her heart surging and unable to find peace.

She realized that while her past power system was unique in this world, the resource ceiling she could reach on her own was incredibly low.

Top-tier spirit rings, spirit bones, and cultivation resources... the vast majority were firmly held in the hands of those massive sects, empires, and Spirit Hall.

If an ordinary person had no backing, obtaining such things was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Yet, this did not discourage her; instead, it further ignited the competitive spirit and desire for conquest buried deep in her bones.

And the mysterious, unfathomable young man before her was perhaps the key to breaking through this barrier.

He could casually produce such detailed foundational texts and summon them across worlds; the resources and secrets he held were likely beyond imagination.

For instance, the "God-Bestowed Spirit Ring" mentioned vaguely in the book as existing only in legends, or the "Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone" that would drive even a Titled Douluo to madness...

At the very least, he should be able to produce a few ten-thousand-year-level spirit bones, right?

She had to secure as much as she could for herself before that annoying Yan Fei snatched the benefits away!

To that end, she had to appear more useful, more attentive, and more indispensable.

"Young Master, you are up. There are no servants in the residence yet, and I dared not be negligent, so I rose early to prepare."

Yue Shen's voice was soft, her posture impeccably humble, her lowered lashes concealing the calculations flickering in her eyes.

Zhao Linchuan set down his teacup, his gaze lingering on Yue Shen for a moment.

The woman before him, who appeared so docile and respectful, was in reality a deep-scheming, ruthless, and ambitious individual.

A thought suddenly struck him, and the prototype of a brilliant plan took shape in his mind.

"You are thoughtful. I should buy some maids and servants later; you need not trouble yourself with these trivial matters."

His tone was gentle as he gestured to the chair beside him. "Sit."

Yue Shen sat as instructed, her back straight, her hands still folded on her lap, quiet as a painting, without a single flaw to be found.

The main hall was silent for a moment, save for the faint sounds brought by the morning breeze through the courtyard.

Zhao Linchuan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Yue Shen."

"I am here."

"Do you... have a name?" Zhao Linchuan asked casually, as if merely making small talk.

"Ah?" Yue Shen clearly had not expected him to ask this, and she froze for a moment.

A name?

In the Yin-Yang School, they only had code names; names were things long forgotten or voluntarily discarded.

She hesitated for a moment, but eventually answered in a low voice: "I am... surnamed Ji."

She did not say her full name, as if it were a brand that had been sealed away for too long, one she was no longer accustomed to uttering.

"Oh, the surname Ji." Zhao Linchuan nodded without further inquiry, then shifted the topic. "Yue Shen, if you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly."

"In front of me, there is no need to be so circuitous and cautious."

Yue Shen's breath hitched imperceptibly.

Had he seen through her?

She licked her slightly dry lips, weighing the pros and cons in her heart.

Opportunities were fleeting; perhaps this was the moment to reveal a hint of her "ambition"?

Appropriate ambition could sometimes better demonstrate one's value.

She raised her eyes, looking at Zhao Linchuan with a clear and firm gaze, her voice still soft but carrying a trace of longing.

"Young Master is perceptive. I... do indeed have a question, though I know not if it is presumptuous."

"Speak freely."

"Young Master, do you... know how one might obtain a 'God-Bestowed Spirit Ring' in this world, or perhaps... a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone?"

As she asked this, Yue Shen's heart beat slightly faster.

She knew this was overly aggressive, but it was the fastest way to gauge the extent of his resources.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Linchuan leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. His face revealed neither anger nor joy as he spoke indifferently.

"Yue Shen, I truly did not expect your appetite to be so large, or your ambition so great."

As his voice fell, he flipped his palm, and a strange, pitch-black orb of light appeared out of thin air above it.

This was the "God-Bestowed Spirit Ring" he had redeemed from the system store for 2,000 system points—its absorption limit locked at 99,999 years, just shy of the hundred-thousand-year threshold.

"A God-Bestowed Spirit Ring; I happen to have one right here."

Zhao Linchuan held it in his palm, the black halo reflecting against his face. "However, this one is somewhat special. The limit of the Soul Ring age it can bestow is ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years."

"Only one year away from one hundred thousand, yet it is like a chasm."

Yue Shen's gaze was instantly drawn to the black sphere of light. She could feel the vast energy and certain laws contained within it, and her breathing grew involuntarily rapid, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years!

This was a top-tier Soul Ring that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of!

"Then... what about those over one hundred thousand years?" She blurted out, her eyes flashing with a near-obsessive light.

Zhao Linchuan flipped his wrist, putting away the God-Bestowed Soul Ring, his tone as indifferent as before.

"Yue Shen, you should understand one principle—one does not accept a reward without merit."

The five short words were like a basin of ice water, instantly extinguishing the burning heat in Yue Shen's heart.

She snapped back to reality, realizing her loss of composure and overstepping just moments ago.

That was right; how could such a precious item be bestowed for nothing?

She had yet to perform a single deed for this "Young Master," yet she had greedily demanded it—it was truly foolish!

She immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Zhao Linchuan, her tone returning to its previous submissiveness, even tinged with a hint of trepidation. "It was this subordinate's rashness. Please punish me, Young Master."

"It doesn't count as rashness."

Zhao Linchuan also stood up, walked over to her, and examined her with a calm gaze.

"Yue Shen, I have discovered that you live... too cautiously and too tensely."

"Set aside those habits of scheming and treading carefully from your original world for the time being."

He turned and walked toward the outside of the main hall, his voice drifting back.

"Follow me. Right now, there happens to be a matter that requires your assistance."

"If you handle it well, there will naturally be benefits for you."

Upon hearing this, Yue Shen's heart tightened at first, followed by an irrepressible surge of joy!

He had a task for her!

This meant she had value! She had an opportunity!

"Yes! I shall strictly follow the Young Master's instructions!" She hurriedly replied, quickening her pace to keep up with Zhao Linchuan. Her posture was even more respectful than before, and the sense of frustration in her heart had long been replaced by a soaring fighting spirit.

As she walked out of the main hall, her gaze subconsciously drifted toward the other side of the courtyard, to the room with closed doors and windows that belonged to Yan Fei.

The morning Glimmer spilled onto the window lattice, silent and still.

A faint arc, mixed with both triumph and provocation, flashed across the corner of Yue Shen's mouth and vanished.

Hmph, the early bird... gets the worm. Yan Fei, this time, I have taken the first step.